Volume II: Filmography

THE LEAVEN OF GOOD

July 12, 1914 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (997 feet)

Character: Drama

Scenario: From a story written by Carl J. Sjostrom

Cast: Mayre Hall (Nell Rogers), Irving Cummings (Harry, "The Rat," her brother), Wilford Younge (Jim Kelly, Harry's pal), Charles Mather (one of Harry's pals), Harry Marks (one of Harry's pals), Toots Brady (one of Harry's pals), Tom Crugar

Notes: 1. Toots Brady was listed as "Tools" Brady in Thanhouser advertising for this film. His real name was Ed Brady. 2. The release date was listed erroneously as July 17, 1914 in the July 18, 1914 issue of Reel Life. 3. Carl J. Sjostrom (1851-1918) was a European author, primarily of works published in German.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, July 18, 1914:

"Nell Rogers comes from Maine to search for her brother, who has not written home in years. Jim Kelly, a gangster, finds her sobbing on a park bench and takes her to his home. Later they are married, and Jim promises to give up his old life. Five months later Jim loses his job and Nell falls ill. Jim looks up his old pal, Harry, 'The Rat,' and together they plan the robbery of a safe. That night Harry is working hard on the safe when Jim, remembering his promise to his sick wife, decides to 'chuck the job.' Harry, thinking he is to be betrayed, closes with Jim, and in the fight which follows is knocked unconscious. Jim returns to his sick wife. Upon recovering consciousness Harry determines to 'get' Jim and steals up to his pal's door. While listening through the half-open door he learns that Nell is his sister and the real reason why Jim had failed to help him crack the safe. Slipping a roll of bills into the astounded Jim's hands, Harry kisses his sister and leaves."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, July 18, 1914:

"A picture of sentiment that will likely please the many, although it has no pretensions to greatness. It has a character called Harry the Rat, a gangster as evil as they make them, but who shows that he has deep in his nature a humanity that can be appealed to. There is no truth to the story and it has not been put on in a way to hide its lack of logic. The photography is clear."

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